Birds.- Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon on vol. 1 front free endpaper "To William Rathbone Esq. from his ever thankful, respectful and most obliged friend the author. - Edinburgh March 27th 1831", half-titles, wood engraved illustrations, prospectus for Birds of America at end of vol. 1, scattered foxing, heavier to preliminary and final ff., 19th century morocco, gilt, original cloth panels laid onto covers, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, light rubbing to extremities, 8vo, Edinburgh, Adam Black, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39].*** A presentation copy of Audubon's text to accompany his Birds of America inscribed to one of his most important British sponsors in the month of publication.The Rathbone family of Greenbank House in Liverpool were among Audubon's earliest and most enthusiastic supporters when the artist arrived in the city on 21st July 1829. The Rathbones were prominent merchant-bankers and founding members of the Liverpool Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Through the family Audubon was introduced to the cream of Liverpool society and quickly proved popular at dinner parties where he regaled guests with tales of the American Frontier. These contacts proved invaluable to Audubon in finding him new subscribers to fund his Birds of America, indeed, Mrs. William Rathbone Sr. would become one of the earliest subscribers and her name appears in the prospectus on p. 13.Audubon would gift numerous works to the Rathbone family and would name one of the birds featured in Birds of America the "Rathbone Warbler" after the family with the following dedication on vol.1 p.333 of the present work (where the ribbon marker in the present copy has remained for a number of years): "Were I at liberty here to express the gratitude which swells my heart, when the remembrance of all the unmerited kindness and unlooked-for friendship which I have received from the Rathbones of Liverpool comes to my mind, I might produce a volume of thanks."